Novell Inc’s Monterey, California-based Desktop Systems Group formerly Digital Research Inc – is not about to let IBM Corp and Microsoft Corp fight out the desktop operating system battle all on their own: it has muscled in on the private dispute by coming out with DR Multiuser DOS 5.1, saying it provides users with the economical and localised communications advantages of a multi-user computer workgroup with full access to NetWare network services. The operating system enables low-cost personal computers and terminals to be linked through an inexpensive serial connection, with eight simultaneous MS-DOS-compatible sessions per user. For NetWare users, DR Multiuser DOS 5.1 provides capabilities previously available only in Unix, such as multiple terminals having multitasking capabilities and access to the network, while allowing low-cost expansion of NetWare networks wherever workgroups exist. Version 5.1 includes new NetWare drivers that link a DR Multiuser DOS workgroup to the network and its resources. The multi-session drivers run on an 80386 or 80486 host and provide 16 simultaneous NetWare sessions through a single NetWare adaptor board where previously, DR Multiuser DOS offered only single-session access to NetWare. Novell says that NetWare Lite, is for users with compute-intensive applications who have an occasional need to exchange data, DR Multiuser DOS is for people using applications such as accounting, where a common, shared data resource is their overriding concern. DR Multiuser DOS 5.1 will begin shipping on April 13 at $700.
